FREEPORT – The Freeport Players will take a little break from custom, but adhere to tradition, as well, when it presents “The WFCP Telethon” on the Sparkle Celebration weekend, Dec. 5-7, at the Freeport Performing Arts Center.
Instead of performing traditional “WFCP Home Time Radio Hour” this time of year, the community theater group will present “The WFCP Telethon,” an inhouse-written spoof of telethons. As usual, though, the performances coincide with the Sparkle Celebration, which draws thousands of people to enjoy holiday festivities in town.
Elizabeth Guffey, managing/artistic director of Freeport Players and director of “Telethon,” said it was time for something new. Cole Tamminen, former board president, came up with the concept.
“Radio Hour was losing a little interest,” Guffey said. “Cole just out of the blue said, ‘What if we do a story about fundraising?’ Somebody said, ‘Oh, like a telethon.’ It seemed like there were a lot of opportunities there and it gave us the variety show format, like Radio Hour.”
This will be the 13th year Freeport Players has produced a show on Sparkle weekend.
“It’s been a good time of year for us,” Gufffey said, “and for some people, become somewhat of a tradition to come and see us on Sparkle weekend.”
The “FCP” in “WFCP Telethon” stands for Freeport Community Players, as Freeport Players originally was named. The “W,” Guffey said, lends the sound of a television station.
“It’s sort of a follow onto the ‘Home Time Radio Hour’ that we’ve been doing for years. It’s a spoof on fundraising telethons. We’ve kind of pulled from all of our things and created this mythical telethon.”
Guffey, Judy Lloyd, David Wallace, Sam Hunneman and others collaborated on the writing.
“It’s original material,” Guffey said. “We’ve been trying, when we can, to do material from people who are doing original work. It means that nobody else does what we do. We had been thinking about it for months. We started writing in August, and completed it four weeks ago.”
Guffey said that “Telethon” has more of “through line” than “Radio Hour.” The story line of a cause is punctuated by variety acts.
“WFCP Telethon” does have lead parts, with Zachariah Stearn and Karen Morgan playing co-hosts, but it’s more of an ensemble production, Guffey said.
“Both Zachariah and Karen are professional comedians,” she said. “We really scored big on this one.”
Phil Chin of Yarmouth, new to the Freeport Players board, will do the voiceovers. Chin, also a member of the Freeport Community Chorus, has worked as a producer for CBS in New York.
“I will bring back the memories of Don LaFontaine, the master of movie trailers,” Chin said. “He did well over 5,000 movie trailers. He made the phrase, ‘in a world,’ popular.”
Chin said he was blessed with a deep voice for parts such as this.
“It comes easy,” he said. “I like this part because I can make an impression in a small amount of time.”
Chin is making his fourth appearance with Freeport Players, including last summer’s big production of “The Wizard of Oz.”
“I just like the audience reaction to our effort,” he said. “It’s quite fun.”
SPARKLE CELEBRATION
The schedule of events for the annual Sparkle Celebration in Freeport:
Friday, Dec. 5
5-9 p.m., musical holiday light show, L.L. Bean Christmas tree.
6 p.m., Parade of Lights. Main Street. Concludes with Santa bringing Freeport’s Talking Christmas Tree to life.
6:30-8 p.m., Santa comes to L.L. Bean; free hot cocoa on the L.L. Bean patio.
6:30-8 p.m., Talking Christmas Tree, corner of Main and Bow streets.
7:30 p.m., “WFCP Telethon,” variety show by Freeport Players, Freeport Performing Arts Center.
Saturday, Dec. 6
10 a.m.-noon, holiday ornaments and craft projects with Maine artist Julie Yeo, L.L. Bean Flagship Store, Kids Department.
10 a.m.-4 p.m., Freeport’s Talking Christmas Tree, corner of Main and Bow streets.
11 a.m., holiday music with local students in American Sign Language, L.L. Bean Flagship Store.
11 a.m.-2 p.m., book signing with Russ Cox and Lynne Plourde, L.L. Bean Flagship Store.
11:30 a.m., 1, 2 and 3:30 p.m., holiday caroling, L.L. Bean Flagship Store.
2 p.m., worldwide tuba concert, Freeport Performing Arts Center.
Noon-3 p.m., Sparkle Express Mini Fest, featuring visits from Santa and Freeport businesses selling holiday gift items, beverages and treats, Train & Information Center, 23 Depot St.
1-7 p.m., free old-fashioned, horse-drawn wagon rides, in front of L.L. Bean Flagship Store.
2 p.m., Sparkle Express on the Amtrak Downeaster, sold out.
5-9 p.m., musical holiday light show, L.L. Bean Christmas tree.
7:30 p.m., “WFCP Telethon,” variety show by Freeport Players, Freeport Performing Arts Center.
Sunday, Dec. 7
10 a.m., Jingle Bell Run/Walk for Arthritis, Mast Landing School.
10 a.m.-4 p.m., Talking Christmas Tree, corner of Main and Bow streets.
11 a.m.-3 p.m., kids face painting, L.L. Bean Flagship Store, Kids Department.
1-3 p.m., book signing, Tom Hennessey, L.L. Bean Flagship Store.
1-7 p.m., free old-fashioned, horse-drawn wagon rides, in front of L.L. Bean Flagship Store.
2-4 p.m., visits with Santa, Wilbur’s of Maine Chocolate Factory.
2 p.m., “WFCP Telethon,” variety show by Freeport Players, Freeport Performing Arts Center.
5-9 p.m., musical holiday light show, L.L. Bean Christmas tree.
Jane Bradley and Gar Roper rehearse a musical number for the upcoming Freeport Players’ “Telethon” performance. Send questions/comments to the editors.
